You have come to the realization that you are addicted to prescription drugs and you need to make a change. But every time you try to quit, you end up going right back. Whether you’re addicted to painkillers, or another mind-altering medication, pills can be extremely difficult to stop using once you’ve developed an addiction. Read on to learn how to break free of your prescription drug problem, once and for all.
1. Admit you have a problem.
The first step to sobriety from prescription pills is admitting you have an addiction. This can be extremely difficult because it forces you to overcome your pride and reevaluate your self-image. For example, if you consider yourself a law-abiding family man, it can be devastating to view yourself a “pill addict.” But this self-reckoning is nevertheless a crucial step on your road to recovery.
2. Decide to quit.
Once you own up to yourself about your addiction, you probably realize you need to make a change. While this is easier said than done, you still need to SAY it — tell yourself that you will quit, tell others you will quit, tell your diary you will quit if you have no one else to tell. Declaring that you will get sober from prescription pills makes you accountable to yourself and to society.
3. Get sober — with help.
Now, it’s time to actually get sober. This is not something you want to do on your own. If you are physically dependent on a drug (you have withdrawal symptoms when you don’t take it), you will need to undergo a medically supervised detox in a controlled, therapeutic setting.
Medical detox is absolutely crucial to your safety. For example, withdrawal from benzodiazepines (such as Xanax, Ativan, Valium) can cause death if not done safely.
4. Get therapy.
Now that you’re sober, it’s time to begin the real work. This involves analyzing your thoughts and behaviors to figure out why you abuse drugs, and learning healthier ways to cope. With individual and group therapy, you can learn how to confront your triggers so that you can break free of addictive coping mechanisms.
You might receive therapy at the rehab facility where you received detox treatment, but it’s important to continue attending therapy as an outpatient after rehab as well.
4. Get involved.
The next step in your sobriety is to reenter the community so you can start to build a new life for yourself. Depending on where you are in your sobriety and your goals, this might mean volunteering, looking for a job, or going to school.
Wherever you are in your life, in this stage of your recovery, it’s important that you make efforts to practice healthy behaviors and establish healthy relationships in a real-world setting.
5. Protect your sobriety.
The final step is one you will be practicing for the rest of your life: staying sober. To stay sober and prevent relapse, you will need ongoing support in the form of therapy or group support meetings, such as Narcotics Anonymous. At our LDS rehab clinic, we also believe that spirituality is an important component to your ongoing sobriety.
Even if you’ve tried and failed to get clean from prescription pills before, it’s never too late to get sober, and to do it right this time. Give us a call today to get help with overcoming your prescription drug addiction.
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